These include the SA-11 “Buk” surface-to-air missile system, SA-15 “Tor” surface-to-missile system, SA-24 “Needle” shoulder-fired surface-to-air missile, and the truck-mounted SA-22 “Pantsir-1” missile system. The Air Force is convinced the aircraft, designed to unleash missiles, rockets, bombs, and its GAU-8/A 30-millimeter Gatling gun is no longer able to fly over “double digit” air defenses. The A-10 is being kept on one condition, though: it is no longer designated to fly over heavily defended battlefields. By retiring older planes, the Air Force hopes to free up funds to buy and support new planes. Older planes are typically more expensive to keep in service, as sourcing spares and the lifespan of key parts becomes an issue. All of the manned aircraft are older planes, particularly the aerial refueling tankers, some of which entered service in the 1950s. In addition to the A-10s, the Air Force plans to cut 29 aerial refueling tankers, 24 C-130H transport aircraft (the current version is the -J), 24 Global Hawks drones, and 17 B-1B Lancer bombers.
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